Nearly a decade ago, Sobeys promised to go cage free by 2025. But today, over 80 percent of the eggs Sobeys sells to Canadians still come from caged hens. Millions of birds in Sobeys’ supply chain are forced to live in horrifying conditions.
“Animal welfare is a priority for us.”
– Sobeys’ Responsible Sourcing Webpage
Around the globe, consumers and investors have been pushing for a ban on cage confinement for more than a decade. Dozens of countries and US states have made the practice illegal, while more than 2,600 companies have committed to banning cages from their supply chains—Sobeys being one of them.
The reasons are clear. Hens suffer if they spend their lives in cages. And the vast majority of people care enough about animal welfare to agree we shouldn’t do this to animals. While some Canadians are limited by the food affordability crisis, egg consumers don’t want to buy eggs from caged hens. In fact, when consumers are provided with in-store information, they are more likely to opt for higher welfare options, even if they come at a higher cost.
When given the opportunity for an informed choice, consumers don’t want to buy eggs that come from birds forced to live in filthy barns, in wall-to-wall rows of stacked wire cages, suffering from painful diseases and deformities, with no more space per bird than a piece of paper.
Massive Investigation Shows Horrifying Suffering in Cages
Every new investigation reveals cage conditions no different than what Canadians saw a decade ago when companies like Sobeys first announced they were going cage-free. In 2024, Sobeys’ suppliers were among the two dozen egg farms covered in Canada’s largest egg industry investigation, conducted by Animal Justice. In both conventional battery cages and newer “furnished” or so-called “enriched” cages, investigators witnessed sick and injured birds with ammonia burns on their skin and eyes, weak and defeated hens with missing feathers, forced to live next to dead and rotting cagemates.
Sobeys’ Cage Cruelty Continues Despite Promises
But Sobeys has been ignoring the well-documented horror of life in cages while hiding behind the affordability crisis to justify it. Nearly five years ago, Sobeys re-affirmed their 2025 cage-free commitment—with the caveat that they needed more time. Since then, the company has reported record earnings but no progress on banning cages. Their call for an extended deadline has been an empty promise.
“Retailers and suppliers agree, these are the right goals to work towards. Since the retailers made these commitments, we’ve learned that the supply chain needs more time to adapt and change. At Sobeys, we are committed to continue working toward these goals.”
– Sobeys’ Animal Welfare Statement, Approved by Michael Medline, President and CEO, July 2024
But it’s not too late.
Sobeys’ CEO and President, Michael Medline, is retiring next year. He has the opportunity to use his leadership to make good on one of the company’s longest standing corporate responsibility policies and leave a legacy of compassion. This is the most significant step he can take to advance animal welfare for the company and re-establish that Sobeys is a leader in Canada.
Together, we’re urging the CEO of Sobeys to be a #Hero4Hens! Ask Michael Medline to publish a plan to make cages history.
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